The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-10-29
NEW YORK CLUBS.
The Places for Good Soups, Good
Wines and Good Fellows.
New York Times.l

NEW YORK Times.
An evidence of general prosperity is fur
nished by the fact that there is long list of
candidates for membership in nearly all the
leading clubs. In the older clubs, whose
limit Of membership is complete, this is al
ways the case, as there is only vacancy
caused by death or resignation or expulsion
in these, and the candidates names remain
up sometimes for several years before they
can be elected In the Union, the Union
League, the Century, and the University the
membership is complete, while in the clubs
wAere this is not the case there is not the
hurry TO MI the list that exists in a new club
anxious 10 I'LL Its roster. The applicants as
a rule, are young men. An Improvement of
20 per cent. over last years business is gem
orally reported in the clubs, and it is a COM
mon remark that more private dinners are
given this season than ever before. MANY
bachelors reciprocate domestic hospitality by
dinners at their club, and many make the
club an annex OF their homes by entertaining
therein. 1t is greater compliment to en-
tertaln friend at your club, accessible to
only privileged few, than at one of the
fashionable cafes, open to the public espec-
tally as at the Manhattan, or the Union. or
the Union League, or the Lotos, or the New
ork, as good, II not better, fare and accom-
modation can be obtained as at any of the
outside resorts. 1t is denied that terrapin,
for instance, is better served anywhere than
at the Manhattan Club, while the famous
wine cellar can be levied on for vintages not
to be obtained elsewhere. The fastdious
members of the Union claim that game is
better served there. especially the canvas
back, than in any other place. The private
dinner, that is one especially given in the
private rooms, combines the social retire.
ment OF the domestic household with the
facilities of the fashionable cafe.
The rising generation cannot be accommo-
dated in the older clubs with a completed
membership, and if the present accession to
membership is to be attributed to this source.
there will necessarily be demand on the
smaller clubs, or new. clubs will be organ
lied, as lew OF the clubs are prepared to ac-
commodate any more than their present
membership. The approaching removal of
the New York Club to more spacious quar-
tiers on Fifth-avenue enabled them to in
crease their membership, and within the
past IL months over 100 new names have
been added on the list here. There is gem
eral ambition in all college graduates locat-
ing IN the city to enter the University Club.
which is limited to this class; but rule pre-
vents admission until two years after matric-
ulation, and, consequently, an apprentice
ship IS served in the clubs in which they are
eligible. Hence, the organization of the COL
lege clubs within the past few yearsllike the
Haryards, the st. Anthony the Delta Psi,
the Delta Kappa Epsilon, and now the Co
lumbia College, while all of these clubs have
attractive quarters, especially the St An
thony, and the Delta Kappa Epsilon, none
Of them equal the admirable accommodate
tons Of the catholic and influential Univer-
sity. As the Union League is crowded with
a long and ancient list Of applications, there
is recourse to the Republican Club, which
IS not so dignifed and conservative The
Republican Club proposes to be very active
IN politics. 1t will take an active part in the
next PRESIDENTIAL campaign, and will only
admit candidates who pledge loyalty to the
party from which it derives its name Let
1t not be Thought, however, that the Repub-
llcan is a campaign club 1t aims to be 1.-THE
social retreat OF those political affiliations"
and offers the social comforts and cheer and
permanency of the regular club. The Demo-
Gratis have the Manhattan and the Blossom
The most conspicuous feature of the alter
atoms not yet completed in the Lambs Club
will be large, open fireplace in the parlor.
around which on winter evenings, after the
theatre, all who come can gather In comfort
Inc dining room adjoining has been fitted up
richly in oak, with grained ceilings and
walnscot. Down stairs the front room has
been converted into bright and cheerful
cafe. Before leaving, the renovators will go
through the house, and, consequently, every
thing Will DE touched up and freshened In
this convivial, Bohemian resort, which, how
ever, boasts of having no journalist in its
ranks and never having its monthly dinners
on Sunday evenings reported. Mr. Lester
Wallack, as the Shepherd, is prevented by
his country residence from actively particle
patlng IN the affairs of the club, but the Bow
Steele Mackaye, is most energetic, and aims
to make the club the resort Of all the actors
1t is not quite correct to characterize the
Home Club as gaming" or ''card" club
while the card rooms up stairs are the funda-
mental idea of the organization. The tend
ency OF the club, outside of the card-playing
element, is artistic, and the entertainments
after the Wednesday dinners are very enjoy
able, and no one need know there is unlim-
tied card playing upstairs unless he is inqui-
sltive, for the rules prevent the introduction
OF guest in the card rooms. The club is a
comfortable resort, with billiard, reading
and dining rooms, and there is a numerous
membership not to be included in the card
playing element. The Home is a proprie-
tary club, and the members are elected by
board created for that purpose. No initia-
ton is charged, only annual dues, with no
possibility Of an assessment.
The New York Club has recently enrolled
Henry u. Abbey, L. Henry French, and
Frank w. Sanger, theatrical managers
There is talk of an economically managed
club exclusively for actors, making the rule
regarding professional admission as rigid as
those in the Stylus and the Authors The
actors now belong TO the Mexican, which
mas admitted an unc0ngenial business ele-
ment; the Lambs, which is partial to the
foreign visitors, and the Lotos, which is too
high priced except for stars. Mr.. Wallack
belongs to the Union and the Century, which
also enr0lls Mr.. Lawrence Barrett and
Edwin Booth. Manager Palmer is a mem
Der OF the Lotos, as are also Managers
French and Sanger.